She had applied to the local priest for permission to erect a memorial but judge, Rupert Bursell, Chancellor of the Diocese of Durham said that there were “additions to the stone” which had not been mentioned when permission was sought from the priest in charge.

Mrs Dalby said: “That head stone is exactly how he wanted it, we discussed it when his grandmother was ill, what we would want when we were gone.

“I go up there a couple of times a week, I keep it nice, it’s the place where I feel closest to him. I just want to give my son his last wish.”

Chronicle readers have blasted the Church’s decision as an “absolute joke” over the decision, and offered their sympathies to the grieving mum.

“This has actually turned me away from the Church,” she said.

“I used to be a believer and now I just can’t see why a God would do this to people.”